This Beach

This week, I’ve shared some of my favorite historic quotes. With Christmas passing, I’d like to continue the same theme, but pull more from the contemporary stuff that I’ve enjoyed.

Oscar Brown Jr. is first.

I’m a big fan of the former HBO show, Def Poetry. As you know, I like poetry … and slam poetry is probably my favorite.

One of the great things about the show was the way the producers always mixed in the youngest of the young with some of the oldest, and most respected artists on the same stage.

Think about it … that doesn’t happen very many places. At least not on a weekly basis.

Oscar Brown Jr. performed in season two. He performed what I considered a very thought-provoking and extremely radical piece called “I Apologize.”

So when Mos Def announced him again in season five, I was expecting something radical, and rude, and rough.

Instead, this old man stepped up to the microphone, with no notes.

He looked tired.

The graphics introduced him as Oscar Brown Junior, and said that his piece was entitled “This Beach.”

And he said:

“

And now I’ve landed on this beach
It takes sixty-five years to reach
As this generation of mine
Is ordered onto life’s front line
The targets of a fusillade
That forces us to think of God

Reluctantly we storm this beach
Advancing to fill up the breach
Created by that fallen corps
Of elders who charged here before
While we enjoyed our middle age
Removed from the fire we now engage

A withering barrage rakes this beach
Its bullets bear the names of each
Of those who set foot on these sands
Old General Calendar commands
Advancing to a sure defeat
Without the option of retreat

We knew before we hit this beach
The enemy that we besiege
Has ammunition for us all
Who as casualties must fall
Not one will manage to survive
Nobody leaves this beach alive

For those arriving on this beach
There is no prayer to pray nor preach
To beg us off in any tongue
Since we have outlived dying young
And for surviving in exchange
Now face the fire at point blank range

The witness we bear on this beach
Has only one lesson to teach
That here the carnage never stops
As every day another drops
Some classmate, relative or friend
Whose attack comes to an abrupt end

So on into the breach my peers
Who knows how many weeks or years
Remain till you and I are hit
As we inch onward, bit by bit
We only know our lives will bleach
Eternally out on this beach.

“

He bowed his head.
The screen faded black
and the following words dissolved onto the screen…

Oscar Brown Jr.
October 10, 1926–May 29, 2005

Since I was watching it in reruns, it really caught me off guard.

I’ve since listened to a lot of this great jazz artist’s work. And I like it.

Finding the words was a difficult task, even aided by google. But it was worth it. Beautiful words are usually worth the journey.

To you who read this, I hope you find something somber but calm in his words.

And to Mr. Brown, a peaceful rest. I’ll see you when its my turn,

on this beach.